Create a Stylized Avocado in Illustrator

In this tutorial, we'll explain how to create a cut avocado with simple shapes, blends, and textures. We'll design both the outer skin, yummy light green avocado filling, and the inner core. Let's get started!

Final Image Preview

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Tutorial Details

Program: Adobe Illustrator CS4

Difficulty: Intermediate

Estimated Completion Time: 1 hour

Step 1

Open up a new document and select the Ellipse Tool (L), then use it to create an ellipse.

Step 2

Select the Pen Tool (P) and add a path point on each side. Grab the Direct Selection Tool (A), then use it to move the added points inward to make it look more like an avocado shape. Make a copy and put it aside.

Step 3

Step 4

Select the outlines shape and go to Effect > Stylize > Zig Zag and apply the settings you see below.

Step 5

Create a rectangle filled with green and place it behind the shape.

Step 6

Select both and in the Path Finder Palette, chose Divide. Then select the outer part with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and delete it.

Step 7

This is our simple avocado shape for now. You could save the last two steps if you fill the shape right in the beginning with a color before outlining the stroke.

Step 8

Take the copied shape from Step 2 and scale it down. Place it towards the bottom and fill it with a lighter green.

Step 9

Select the outline and fill it with a brown.

Step 10

Make another copy of the shape with the lighter green, scale it down and fill it with an even lighter green.

Step 11

Select the green shapes and apply a blend with the specified steps shown below.

Step 12

Create another oval like shape or take another copy of the shapes we created and fill it with a beige radial gradient.

Step 13

Make a copy of the pit shape on top and alter the outline with the Direct Selection Tool (A). Move the gradient slider around if you think it gives it a better contrast.

Step 14

With the Pen Tool (P), create a small roundish shape as a highlight on the pit and fill it with white. Set the Layer Mode to Overlay with a 40% Opacity.

Step 15

This is the inside part of the avocado.

Step 16

Copy the outline shape and inside fill of the avocado and Unite in the Pathfinder Palette. Now fill it with a muddy green.

Step 17

Open the Patterns and choose the Cheetah patterns form the animal patterns. Drag it onto the artboard. We want to change the colors a little bit.

Step 18

Select the small black fill and go the Select > Same > Fill Color. This will pick all the small black circles.

Step 19

Fill them with the radial white to black gradient, then change the background color to the muddy green or a dark green as shown.

Step 20

Now drag the pattern back into the Swatch Palette and name it avocado skin.

Step 21

Copy the avocado shape on top (Command + C + F) and fill it with the just the altered pattern. See how big it is? We will change that.

Step 22

Double-click the Scale Tool and uncheck all option boxes except for the Patterns box. Now chose about 25% for scaling. With the preview button checked, you can see how it just changes the size of the pattern without affecting the shape.

Step 23

Set the shape to the Layer Mode to Overlay and the Opacity to 20%.

Step 24

This is what it should look like now.

Step 25

Copy the shape on top again and fill it with a green to brown to green radial gradient. Set the Layer Mode to Overlay.

Step 26

Copy it on top again and fill it this time with a black to white radial gradient and set the Layer Mode to Multiply at 55% Opacity.

Step 27

Repeat the copy on top again, change the gradient sliders and set it to Overlay at 30% Opacity.

Step 28

Repeat and apply the settings you see below.

Step 29

One last time, fill it with a light green, a muddy green and black gradient. Set the Layer Mode to Multiply and 100% Opacity. This way we achieve a glossy and rich look. I bet there are other ways to achieve this as well, feel free to get creative and experiment here.

Step 30

Create two little beige shapes that act like the little stem piece of the avocado.

Step 31

Ah, the avocado is ready...

Step 32

I created a background with a linear black to white gradient and placed the avocado on top. I added a Drop Shadow to the inside part.

Step 33

To make it even glossier, I copied and reflected the shapes and applied an Opacity Mask.

Conclusion

Last but not least, I transformed the inside part and placed a scaled skin to the back to make the avocado look like it is lying on the back and not standing up. That's it! I hope you had fun and learned some new techniques!

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